Dissertation Research: Origin and Diversification of Pseudoscorpions on Granite Outcrops in Southwestern Australia

伪蝎是蜘蛛纲的一个目，至少有3300个物种，分布在世界各地，但对它们的研究仍然不足。这笔赠款探索了假蝎的一个属--Synsphyronus Chamberlin的进化多样性，这种情况发生在澳大利亚和新西兰。该项目的目的是：1)评估澳大利亚西南部Synsphyronus的多样性和进化关系，该物种在由花岗岩露头形成的栖息地岛屿上进行多样化；2)了解Synsphyronus露头特有物种的进化起源。种群之间的关系将使用DNA序列进行推断。标本也将用扫描电子显微镜进行检查，以寻找区分的形态特征。生物界面临的一个关键问题是描述公认的全球生物多样性热点的生物群，同时面临分类学家数量的减少，特别是在伪蝎等鲜为人知的类群中。澳大利亚西南部被认为是全球生物多样性的热点地区，虽然其丰富的植物区系是众所周知的，但对其无脊椎动物的记录却落后于人。该项目将通过与澳大利亚的一名伪蝎分类学家建立国际伙伴关系来加强研究的基础设施。一名研究生将接受她的合作者的分类学培训，他们将一起描述通过她的实地考察发现的多达6个新物种。

Pseudoscorpions, an arachnid order with at least 3300 species, are distributed worldwide yet they remain understudied. This grant explores the evolutionary diversification of one genus of pseudoscorpions, Synsphyronus Chamberlin, which occurs in Australia and New Zealand. This project aims to 1) assess the diversity and evolutionary relationships of Synsphyronus in southwestern Australia, where the group has diversified on habitat islands formed by granite outcrops and 2) to understand the evolutionary origins of the outcrop-endemic species of Synsphyronus. Relationships among populations will be inferred using DNA sequences. Specimens will also be examined with scanning electronic microscopy to search for distinguishing morphological traits. The resulting phylogeny will be used to test hypotheses about outcrop colonization events and character evolution.A critical issue facing the biological community is to describe the biota of recognized global biodiversity hotspots, while facing a decline in the number of taxonomists, particularly in lesser-known groups such as pseudoscorpions. Southwestern Australia is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot and while its floristic richness is well known, documentation of its invertebrate fauna lags behind. This project will enhance the infrastructure for research through an international partnership with a pseudoscorpion taxonomist in Australia. A graduate student will be trained in taxonomy by her collaborator and together they will describe up to six new species that have been discovered through her fieldwork.